Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 66

“Hello…?”

“…”

“Hello.”

I opened my eyes wide.

A familiar face came into view.

“…Sergeant?”

“Yes…”

A slender build in a security guard uniform, light hair color, and a name tag reading ‘Sergeant’.

It was the security guard who had been caught up in the darkness with me and the Changgui motif…!

I hastily tried to get up.

A tremendous headache overwhelmed me… Oh?

Rustle.

I hesitated.

My hands, which had reached out to the floor to support myself, were wrapped tightly in red yarn with bells.

‘Yarn?’

A familiar use and appearance… Ah.

‘Equipment used by the security team…’

———————=

Darkness Exploration Record / Daydream Co., Ltd.

/ Item

Nostalgia Kitty

A device item in the form of red yarn with silver bells.

When worn, it fixes the target to the appearance of the time when they were most physically and mentally healthy in the past 10 years.

The more severe the mutation, the faster it breaks.

※Refer to usage records for health standards.

———————=

It was an object that allowed anyone to temporarily regain their ‘good past state’.

Knowing its identity, I felt a little more at ease.

I relaxed my body…

“…”

“…”

Wait a minute.

But why am I restrained??

I quickly raised my head.

The sergeant’s face, which looked like he couldn’t care less, showed a hint of welcome in his eyes.

And he waved his hand slightly.

“See you again…”

“Yes. But…”

I raised my arms as much as possible.

“What is this?”

“A contaminated employee… you rescued them, right…?”

“Yes, but why am I…?”

The sergeant pointed at me.

Ah.

“…Do you think I’m contaminated?”

“Probably… Yes… No one else is around.”

Then, the sergeant raised both hands, showing a hint of expectation or embarrassment.

“Well, welcome to the security team…?”

No, no.

This person thinks I’m a new recruit…!

“I’m not.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m not.”

After emphasizing it twice, I finally came to my senses and looked around.

‘…Is this a quarantine room?’

The room surrounded by gray walls had nothing in it. Even the lighting was built into the ceiling without any protruding parts of the finishing material.

‘The security team must have responded properly.’

I must have called at the right time.

[Security Team Rental Warehouse]

This facility, which was authorized for my use upon my promotion to supervisor, was a warehouse where security team equipment could be rented via phone or visit.

However, if the security team deems a ‘subjugation’ necessary, they can intervene like this…

‘I won.’

Seeing that I’m now detained in a security team facility.

I slowly nodded.

“I guess this is the company building. Seeing that you, the sergeant, are here.”

“Yes… You’re perceptive…”

“…”

I swallowed.

If I’m not mistaken, inside the tattoo on my wrist is the contaminated Supervisor Park Minseong.

‘I need to take this out and hand it over for decontamination.’

Wouldn’t it be incredibly stupid in the long run for the fact that I have this tattoo to be officially registered with the security team?

So, I tried to probe a bit.

“Is there CCTV installed here?”

“I don’t think so…”

Right.

It seemed unlikely they would have recorded media, as this is probably the first time someone contaminated by the ‘<Hungry Hangman>’ urban legend has manifested in reality.

The CCTV footage itself could be contaminated.

‘Especially since Hungry Hangman is a particularly strong mental contamination urban legend…’

In any case, no one seemed to know that Supervisor Park Minseong was completely contaminated inside my arm.

I swallowed.

“…sergeant.”

“Just call me Jay… I’m the only J left in the security team…”

“Yes, Jay.”

I asked with a serious face.

“Could you keep what’s about to happen a secret?”

Of course, he’ll say no.

Or he’ll pretend to hesitate, act like he’s convinced, then quickly report it.

Either way, I need to prepare a bribe…

“Sure…”

“…”

“If only it weren’t something like, ‘I’ll blow up the company’… No, does it even matter…? Then please keep it a secret that I heard this…?”

“…”

Is this the spirit of a lifer…?

‘This company is…’

I steadied my reeling mind and said firmly,

“It’s not about blowing up the company.”

“Then…?”

“Actually, I’m rescuing and subduing a contaminated employee.”

“…”

“…”

“…??”

The security chief looked at me with a ‘what are you saying’ expression.

“Are you having a mental breakdown…?”

“I’m perfectly fine. Aren’t I even wearing contamination control equipment?”

I raised my arm.

“This yarn with the bobbles… it seems like contamination control equipment.”

“Um… yes.”

“Then you’ll understand that I’m saying this with a clear mind.”

The security chief stared at me intently.

I swallowed.

“When you’re ready, I’ll bring the contaminated employee here.”

“Ah.”

The other person blinked, staring at me with not much confidence, but slowly opened their mouth.

“Yes… try it…”

“Do you need any preparations? I only have one chance to use disposable items.”

“What…?”

The security chief patted themselves.

“Me.”

It could have been an arrogant statement, but the weary tone of ‘I don’t care about anything’ sounded quite straightforward.

‘Besides, he’s the chief.’

The ability of someone who’s been the sergeant of the security team specializing in ‘Darkness Suppression,’ I saw it during the last Changgui ghost story…

…Good. Then.

“Yes.”

I took a deep breath.

And immediately plunged my hand into the tattoo.

“…!”

Without searching for the target by swirling, it was caught immediately. Confining my fellow teacher, what a violation of the rules!!

‘Pull!’

As my hand came out of the tattoo, what I was holding came out with it.

Thud-thud-thud-thud.

Making strange noises, the ‘teacher’ began to emerge from the tattoo.

And.

Thump.

The moment the yarn snapped from the impact,

Blood spurted from my forearm like a fountain.

The wound I’d made with the bloodsucking knife had returned.

“~!”

Damn! I should restrain my cursing, but it hurts so much!! The contamination, the contamination was returning too. But more importantly…

“Soleum Teacher! Doing such mischievous things is a punishable offense at our ■■Branch Kindergarten…”

Hesitation.

Supervisor Park Minseong, who had been smiling softly, ‘Teacher,’ stopped.

And after blankly looking around,

“…”

“…”

“This isn’t a kindergarten!!”

Damn it.

“This isn’t a kindergarten! This isn’t a kindergarten! I went out without permission, unauthorized absence, I wasn’t a perfect teacher, I… I broke the rules…!”

I couldn’t respond, just… guilt washed over me.

I’m truly sorry, Teacher. I made a wrong judgment. I shouldn’t have done this, I’ll read the educational materials to atone for the Teacher’s punishment. I grabbed our ■■Branch Kindergarten’s educational materials…

“Oops.”

Thwack.

Someone grabbed my face.

And put something in my ear.

“Sleep-inducing… something.”

…

…

Flicker.

I blinked.

“Excuse me.”

“…”

“Excuse me…”

I opened my eyes again.

Everything was quiet.

“Are you okay…?”

“I’m fine.”

I instinctively knew.

“Did you make me lose consciousness?”

“Yes…”

I saw the capsule shell that had fallen to the floor from my ear.

‘Was it medicine?’

It seems I received a short-term fainting effect.

Similar to the Baekseolsan apple I had, but like a lower-tier item.

‘Stay calm.’

Thanks to it, I seemed to have escaped the effects of the contamination.

I took a breath and looked down at my arm. A bandage was now wrapped around the injured area.

And the yarn that had been wrapped around me…

“…”

When I looked up, it was now tightly wrapped around Supervisor Park Minseong, in the corner.

That’s right. It’s not the Teacher’s form.

To Supervisor Park Minseong!

‘…It worked.’

Supervisor Park Minseong, wearing a black suit and mask, looked perfectly normal, as if just before entering a ghost story.

Even if it was only a temporary effect due to the control equipment.

“…Ha.”

My strength drained, and I leaned against the wall.

“…Transfer successful.”

I hear the security chief muttering from beside me.

“Lucky guy… I didn’t know someone could get out so quickly… I’m jealous….”

Wait a minute.

“Since he got out quickly, does that mean he’s completely recovered from the contamination?”

“Um….”

The security chief seemed annoyed, bowing his head, but upon meeting my persistent gaze, he finally spat out,

“That’s a Dark grade… isn’t it…?”

“Yes? Yes. That’s right. B-grade.”

“Then it’s fine….”

B-grade?

“The company has the know-how… um. In moderately okay cases… department transfer?”

“…….”

Right. It’s better to work in security than die.

‘I hope he recovers well and either returns or quits….’

“…….”

I looked back at Supervisor Park Minseong.

Perhaps his tension had eased a little.

I felt strange.

The feeling that a coworker I had worked with in the same office just yesterday, sharing jokes and greetings,

would suddenly disappear from my life tomorrow.

“…Please take care of him.”

“…….”

The security chief nodded slightly.

A mysterious expression.

…Thinking that far, my head finally recalled the last sight I saw.

…Assistant Manager Eun Haje!!

“By the way, what happened to the corpse lying next to me? The one without a left hand….”

“I don’t know….”

What if, just what if it was incinerated or something? No, that’s impossible.

‘It’s not the head, just the hand, so they probably thought it was strange.’

However, overcome with anxiety, I immediately rushed the procedure and left the isolation room.

“Let’s go together….”

“Ah, yes.”

Accompanied by some of the security personnel who had been called, I walked out of the isolation room, somewhere between being escorted and being watched.

And the moment I went out, I realized.

This was the isolation ward next to the security team’s rental warehouse.

[Isolation B]

‘There were separate documents dealing with this place in the Dark Exploration Records….’

Every single one of them was chilling.

The two summoned personnel walked down the corridor at a calm pace, keeping half a step ahead of me, and I followed, suppressing my chilling feeling…

Kikikiki kikikik.

Aaaaaaaaaa the glorious name, shine upon me!

Save me, save me, save me!

A spine-chilling sound echoed from each isolation room lined up on either side.

‘Don’t, don’t look.’

Without ever looking, I just walked, focusing on the light coming from the door ahead…

….

Who’s there in the hallway?

Uaaaaaaaaack!!

Who’s there in the hallway? Who’s there in the hallway? Who’s there in the

Please hurry up and walk! Faster!!

But these security personnel stubbornly maintained their speed and walked out the door.

I, completely, was drained of energy, a wilted kimchi, and proceeded to the rental warehouse exit procedure…….

“…….”

The rental warehouse front was just like a barren facilities team corridor.

Going to the counter, a silent security personnel took out my belongings which were under quarantine.

“Thank you.”

I received my briefcase. A sticker with [Qualified/Risk D] was attached to the surface.

‘It seems like they didn’t inspect the items one by one.’

I didn’t receive any further inspections, like having something taken out of my arm.

Surprisingly, Security Chief J seems to have kept his word completely.

‘But he might tell eventually.’

I can handle that much. I even mentioned it was a disposable item on purpose.

The important thing is countermeasures.

‘Let’s do our best.’

I took a deep breath.

‘Then, let’s quickly find out about Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s situation….’

– Friend!

– Friend!

Huh??

– Friend!!

“…….”

Braun!!!

“Is, is this my belongings?”

The employee pointed to a container in the corner of the front with his finger.

[Waste Box]

My suit jacket, soaked and crumpled, and a small stuffed doll crammed inside it, were tumbling around inside…….

Huuuuuuaaaack!

– They dared to throw me in this place, not even a studio!! This is an abuse of power and an insult! I never had this happen even when I was a rookie!

You, you crazy bastards!

I could take a bath in sweat.

I quickly took out the jacket and smoothed out the doll before putting it in my shirt pocket.

‘I, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’

– Huu……Mr. Roe Deer doesn’t need to apologize. Those guys acted recklessly!

It seems I’ve calmed down a bit. I quickly turned around and started walking.

But a sinister voice followed me….

– But a good friend doesn’t forget….

“…….”

Let’s keep Braun away from the security team….

It was the moment I was stepping out the door.

“Kim Soleum.”

“…!!”

Someone was waiting in front of the security team’s front desk.

“…Team Leader.”

Section Chief Lizard looked at me with his vertical pupils.

“Did you come to pick me up?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you taking me? No, I’d also like to know why you’re taking me there.”

“The infirmary. Assistant Manager Eun Haje is lying down.”

“…!!”

I,

after hesitating several times, finally opened my mouth.

“…Is she alive?”

Section Chief Lizard looked back at me.

And answered definitively.

“Yes.”

“…….”

A surge.

Something unknown suddenly welled up in my throat.

“……Team Leader. Supervisor Park Minseong also came out.”

“I see.”

Team Leader Lee Jaheon seemed to think for a moment, then asked this:

“Is he alive?”

“…Yes.”

“Then everyone survived.”

“……Yes.”

That alone was worth it.

Definitely.